This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on December 9, 2024 - December 15, 2024

The last time City & Country spoke to Puncakdana Sdn Bhd was two years ago, on the launch of Myara Park in Ara Damansara.

Scheduled for completion in 2025, the low-density, freehold mixed-use Myara Park has a gross development value (GDV) of nearly RM200 million. The 23-storey tower will comprise 126 serviced apartments, while the 17-storey tower will have 129 SoHo suites.

Much has happened since then, including the launch of several projects outside the Klang Valley, such as Al-Waqf @ Tunjong Phase 2 in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, and PuncakCity @ Seberang Perai Selatan in Juru, Penang.

Puncakdana’s completed projects in the Klang Valley are primarily located in Ara Damansara (AraTre’ Residences, D13 Office Tower, Citta Mall and more). For the first time, the company is exploring opportunities beyond Ara Damansara, venturing further south into Dengkil at the Bandar Cybersouth township, where it has been developing a series of landed homes under its Daun Villa series since 2023.

“The launch of Daun Villa Cybersouth marks the beginning of Puncakdana’s development in the southern part of the Klang Valley. We had a remarkable pre-release of 250 housing units from this initial phase, which saw all units being snapped up,” executive director Chuah Chong Ewe tells City & Country in an exclusive interview at the Daun Villa sales gallery in Cybersouth.

He says Daun Villa will be the first phase of a 62-acre master-planned development that will include additional landed and high-rise residential components. Furthermore, plans are underway to develop a commercial hub where the Daun Villa sales gallery is presently located. The total GDV of this project is about RM800 million.

“Puncakdana is also in discussions to collaborate on several development projects in Cyberjaya to enhance our portfolio and expand our presence in the southern region of the Klang Valley,” says Chuah.

He attributes its planned expansion into Cybersouth to the strategic location of the township.

“Cybersouth is a relatively new township located between Putrajaya and Cyberjaya as well as being adjacent to Puchong South. This will provide an ideal and desirable location for homebuyers due to the easy access to facilities, amenities and other conveniences in the mature surrounding areas.

“Cybersouth, being an integrated township with ample green spaces, also offers a serene and friendly living environment,” says Chuah.

“Cybersouth is gradually becoming a mature township as well, and other established developers such as Avaland Bhd (KL:AVALAND) and LBS Bina Group Bhd (KL:LBS) already have projects in the area.”

“This sales gallery was supposed to be a soundstage or film studio, and we repurposed it to showcase our Daun Villa landed units,” explains Chuah as he takes us on a tour of the gallery.

With its high ceilings and warehouse-like layout, the building was envisioned as part of the 38-acre Entertainment Village (E-Village) over two decades ago. The project was to comprise several studios, soundstages and film production facilities before it was hit by financial and legal issues.

Daun Villa, which encompasses 22 acres of freehold land, comprises 80 two-storey terraced homes and 338 three-storey townhouses called town villas. The residential development has a GDV of RM300 million.

“The homes are designed for growing families or multigenerational living. Daun Villa is an option for the young or old looking for a landed property instead of high-rises in the surrounding Cyberjaya, Putrajaya and even Puchong areas.

“It provides homebuyers with an attainable choice for landed homes surrounded by a lush green environment. This can be a ‘forever home’ with a tranquil atmosphere. It will feel like returning to your vacation home away from the hustle and bustle of the city,” says Chuah.

The 4-bedroom and 3-bathroom terraced units, with built-ups ranging from 3,015 to 4,436 sq ft, are priced from RM834,000 to RM1.243 million. The town villas, with built-ups ranging from 1,949 to 3,300 sq ft, are priced from RM578,000 to RM957,000.

“Since being opened for preview in April, Daun Villa has achieved a 90% booking rate, with 70% of that has been converted into sales,” says Chuah.

The project will have a residents-only clubhouse with resort-like lifestyle facilities. Additionally, there will be four themed parks — Wellness Park, Fun and Chill Park, Oasis Garden and EcoCommunity Park, each with dedicated recreational spaces and facilities such as pocket gardens, multipurpose courts and play zones.

In addition, the back lanes will have landscaping, transforming them into green jogging trails. “We emphasise greenery. The jogging trails and the pocket gardens link the entire development, offering the residents a lush and healthy environment,” says Chuah.

Unlike typical townhouses, Chuah says the town villas have 1½ storeys per floor — making up a total of three storeys. “We also provide four car park lots to cater for larger families, instead of the usual two lots per townhouse.”.

Drawing from lessons learnt during the Covid-19 pandemic, he highlights that the units have large interior spaces as well as good ventilation and ample natural lighting, providing a more comfortable environment for occupants.

“We offer practical and spacious layouts for the units as well as high ceilings. For instance, the large balcony on the upper floor can be converted into a garden for some greenery and fresh air.

“With that, the top units sell just as fast as the ground-floor units. Usually, the ground-floor units are the ones quickly snapped up first,” says Chuah.

He adds that townhouses are an affordable option for those who seek a living environment similar to that of a landed property but with the facilities of a high-rise residential development.

“It offers the best of both worlds and presents better value and space compared with a slightly cheaper studio apartment unit, for instance.

“The gated-and-guarded Daun Villa development also has an exclusive, residents-only clubhouse and a nice water feature to complement it. The clubhouse is designed to offer a resort lifestyle for the community,” says Chuah.

While busy in Cybersouth, Puncakdana is also developing a new project in Ara Damansara called Amara Residences.

The freehold mixed-development project is located next to Citta Mall (another Puncakdana development) and has a GDV of about RM350 million. The 29-storey project has 412 residential and nine commercial units (2,000 sq ft each) on the ground and mezzanine levels. “The entrances for the two components are separate, with the residential component starting from Level 9 onwards,” explains Chuah. The project was about 40% booked at the time of writing.

The residential units have built-ups ranging from 655 sq ft (2-bedroom and 2-bathroom) to 1,272 sq ft (4-bedroom and 3-bathroom). Prices range from RM574,200 to RM1,073,500.

“Amara Residences is the next chapter in Ara Damansara and would appeal to young couples and new families as it provides a luxurious lifestyle and trendy facilities. It would also be a great property for long-term investment as it has the convenience of the successful Citta Mall just beside the project and is within walking distance of the Ara Damansara LRT station,” says Chuah.

The developer has secured Ben’s Independent Grocer (BIG) as the anchor tenant for the commercial units, and a dining concept by the team behind LI Restaurant, Provisions and Locus will also be coming to Amara Residences.

Besides that, a branded four-star hotel adjacent to Amara Residences is in the works.

Chuah says Amara Residences’ strategic location near Subang Airport is an advantage and the airport’s recent rejuvenation with the addition of more flights will boost demand for Ara Damansara properties even more.

Amara Residences has two levels of facilities, the first on Level 9 (podium) and the other on Level 29 (rooftop). Facilities on the podium include a multipurpose hall, jogging path, children’s playground and gardens. Meanwhile, there will be an infinity pool, sky garden, gymnasium and co-working space on the rooftop.

“Amara Residences is set against a backdrop of lush greenery and serene surroundings. We have landscaped gardens for residents to unwind and reconnect with nature,” adds Chuah.

Puncakdana currently has over RM2 billion worth of projects in the pipeline. “These projects are located in the Klang Valley, Penang, Kedah and Kelantan, and will comprise an array of components including residential, commercial and retail, as well as integrated mixed-use developments that will consist of retail, hotel and Grade-A offices. We look forward to sharing more on our upcoming launches in the near future,” says Chuah.

He adds that Puncakdana has been transforming the skyline of Ara Damansara, with the completion of AraTre’ Residences and upcoming completion of Myara Park next year.

“Puncakdana Group is excited to announce that it has signed an agreement to purchase a parcel of land adjacent to Amara Residences, which has been earmarked for a future development worth an estimated GDV of RM1 billion,” says Chuah.

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